Region 4 reviews recent bond activity and long-term debt analysis

Finance Director Robert Grissom and materials prepared by Barry Bernabe, a managing director, summarized Region 4's recent debt activity and long-term debt outlook for the committee on June 15.

The packet reports that a $15 million bond issue from 2004 was paid off in February 2024 and lists approvals at referendum of roughly $17.341 million for athletic field renovations, mold remediation and security entrance work. The materials say the district bonded $7,185,000 in May 2024 and $7,580,000 in August 2025 for a combined $14,765,000 in bonds, with the $2.58 million difference between the referendum approval and the amount bonded covered by state school construction grants and project underruns.

The debt slides included a modeled scenario showing existing debt plus potential future issuances (an example $5 million in FY2030 and another $5 million in FY2035) and emphasized the timing impact on interest rates: the packet states that delaying the May 2025 borrowing to August 2025 reduced borrowing costs and yielded an estimated $600,000 savings over the life of the bonds.

Committee members were given the analysis for review; no formal action was taken during the June 15 meeting. The materials note possible future issuances and include detailed tables of existing and proposed debt service for planning purposes.